Lexical Summary zaqan: Beard Original Word: זָקָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance beard From zaqen; the beard (as indicating age) -- beard. see HEBREW zaqen NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition beard, chin NASB Translation beard (14), beards (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs זָקָן noun masculine2Samuel 10:5 + and feminineIsaiah 15:2 + chin, beard (Assyrian zi‡nu, AsrbAnnals iv. 29; Arabic ![]() ![]() 1 chin (opposed to ראֹשׁ, top of head) Leviticus 13:29,30; Leviticus 14:9 (all P), 2 Samuel 20:9; Ezekiel 5:1; compare also 1 Samuel 21:14; Psalm 133:4 (where however chin as bearded may be meant); chin, or lower jaw, of lion and bear 1 Samuel 17:35. 2 beard, as growing (צמח) 2 Samuel 10:5 = 1 Chronicles 19:5; as cut off Isaiah 7:20 (ספה), Isaiah 15:2 = Jeremiah 48:37 (גרע); compare מְגֻלְּחֵי זָקָן Jeremiah 41:5; 2 Samuel 10:4 (גלח); שׂער ראשׁי זּזְקָנִי Ezra 9:3; here belongs פאת זקנ(ךׅ Leviticus 19:27; Leviticus 21:5 (both H; opposed to ראשׁ). Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope of Usage זָקָן designates the beard, the naturally grown facial hair of a man. Nineteen occurrences form a coherent biblical witness that the beard is more than a physical feature; it functions as a marker of holiness, dignity, masculinity, honor, and covenant community identity. Ceremonial and Legal Regulations Levitical legislation treats the beard with the same gravity assigned to every visible sign of covenant holiness. Beards in Israelite Culture Honor and masculinity were publicly assessed by the condition of a man’s beard. Prophetic Symbolism Prophets utilized the beard as a sign-act to convey national judgment. Lamentation and Personal Mourning Ezra 9:3 records the reformer tearing hair from head and beard when confronted with covenant unfaithfulness: visible self-humbling expressing corporate guilt before God. Beards become an outward canvas upon which inward sorrow is displayed. Liturgical Anointing Psalm 133:2 celebrates unity among God’s people by picturing the consecrating oil “running down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron”. The beard becomes the conduit of priestly anointing, symbolizing the overflow of divine blessing from the head of the high priest onto the community he represents. Historical and Ministerial Significance 1. Holiness and Separation: Regulations concerning the beard distinguish Israel from surrounding nations and affirm that God’s covenant shapes even grooming habits. Christological and Pastoral Reflections The Servant Song hints at Messiah’s suffering when His beard is plucked (Isaiah 50:6, using a different term), foretelling a humiliation greater than any described in the Old Testament narratives. Pastors may thus emphasize that the shame borne in the face of Christ redeems believers from ultimate disgrace and restores the honor symbolized by the full beard in Scripture. Contemporary Application While the ceremonial aspects of the law have found fulfillment in Christ, the enduring principles remain: Related Concepts Shaving, anointing oil, priesthood, uncleanness, mourning rites, prophetic sign-acts, shame and honor. Forms and Transliterations בְזָקָֽן׃ בִּזְקַ֥ן בִּזְקָנ֔וֹ בזקן בזקן׃ בזקנו הַזָּקָ֖ן הַזָּקָ֥ן הזקן וּזְקָנִ֔י וזקני זְקַֽן־ זְקַנְכֶ֖ם זְקָנֶ֑ךָ זְקָנֶֽךָ׃ זְקָנָ֔ם זְקָנָ֖ם זְקָנֽוֹ׃ זְקָנוֹ֙ זָקָ֖ן זָקָ֛ן זקן זקן־ זקנו זקנו׃ זקנך זקנך׃ זקנכם זקנם ḇə·zā·qān ḇəzāqān biz·qā·nōw biz·qan bizKan bizkaNo bizqan bizqānōw haz·zā·qān hazzaKan hazzāqān ū·zə·qā·nî uzekaNi ūzəqānî vezaKan zā·qān zaKan zāqān zə·qā·nām zə·qā·ne·ḵā zə·qā·nōw zə·qan- zə·qan·ḵem zekan zekaNam zekanChem zekaNecha zekaNo zəqan- zəqānām zəqāneḵā zəqanḵem zəqānōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 13:29 HEB: בְּרֹ֖אשׁ א֥וֹ בְזָקָֽן׃ NAS: on the head or on the beard, KJV: upon the head or the beard; INT: the head or the beard Leviticus 13:30 Leviticus 14:9 Leviticus 19:27 Leviticus 21:5 1 Samuel 17:35 1 Samuel 21:14 2 Samuel 10:4 2 Samuel 10:5 2 Samuel 20:9 1 Chronicles 19:5 Ezra 9:3 Psalm 133:2 Psalm 133:2 Isaiah 7:20 Isaiah 15:2 Jeremiah 41:5 Jeremiah 48:37 Ezekiel 5:1 19 Occurrences |